Chennai: State Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar urged musicians and danseuses to present compositions out of Sangam classics and Tamil epics so as to promote Tamil culture and history, and give a new lease of life to ancient Tamil literature.
He was delivering at the valedictory address of Aadi Isai Thiruvizha organised by Chennai 2000 Plus Trust, Music Durbar and Absolute Arusuvai from 5 to 18 August, where he also presented Chennai Awards to Lakshmi Ramaswamy (Bharatanatyam) and Ragavan Manian (Music). The Minister congratulated Chennai 2000 Plus Trust for conducting a music and dance festival on traditional Tamil music, poetry and dance, including programmes on Sangam classics, and said Tamilnadu had a rich tradition of music and dance which was over 2,500 years old. He referred to Devaram music which was composed in seventh century itself. Music programmes based on these poems should be conducted all over Tamilnadu, and said the government would support projects of the Chennai 2000 Plus Trust in this direction.
Chennai 2000 Plus Trust president R Rangaraj said the Trust had held programmes on the impact of Devaram Pan (precursor to the raga of Carnatic music) created in 7th century itself by Sambandar, Sundarar and Appar in various parts of Tamilnadu including Chennai. The Trust aimed at creating awareness about the rich cultural and historical treasures of Tamilnadu, he added.